Turkish Airlines to Launch Detroit Flights with Connections to India; Check Major Advantages over Other Airlines

The winter schedule 2023 will see a new service in the US and India travel corridor. Michigan that has seen the blooming of trade relations between Detroit and Chennai, India will now get one-stop Detroit to India flights via Istanbul. Yes, Turkish Airlines is the first Middle East carrier to be flying to and from Detroit (DTW) starting on 15 November 2023. Of European airlines, only Lufthansa and Air France have Detroit in their US network. British Airways axed Michigan from its network during the pandemic.

Turkish Airlines flights to India from Detroit via Istanbul will give a tough competition to other airlines operating on this route in codeshare or non-codeshare ways. Turkish Airlines will have greater competitive edge in terms of baggage allowance and international transit than American Airlines that operates two-stop codeshare flights from Detroit to Delhi and Mumbai. Also United Airlines flights from Detroit, which Air India further connects to India via Chicago and Newark, have certain disadvantages.

Most Lufthansa flights to India from Detroit in Economy allow only one check-in bag (23kg) for free. Similarly, American Airlines and United Airlines being validating carriers for international codeshare flights do not let economy travelers check in a second bag for free. On the other hand, Turkish Airlines has liberal check-in baggage policy for travelers booking cheap economy flights to India from USA. You can check in two pieces of baggage (23kg each) for free on Turkish economy class flights, regardless of routes.

Starting on November 15, Turkish Airlines will operate direct flights between Detroit and Istanbul, with one-stop connections to its destinations in India. American Airlines’ codeshare itinerary with Qatar Airways for Detroit to Mumbai travel involves two stops – Dallas and Doha, which causes huge disadvantage to many family travelers and senior citizens. American Airlines’ other itineraries involving Etihad Airways for Detroit to Mumbai travel have three segments: Detroit to Chicago, Chicago to Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi to New Delhi.

In view of the aforementioned scenarios, it is obvious that you will prefer Turkish Airlines to American Airlines and Lufthansa for traveling between Detroit and India.

Does American Airlines operate non-codeshare flights between Michigan and India? Yes, it does. However, American Airlines’ core itineraries involving no second airline have two stops – Charlotte/Washington DC and New York – between Detroit and New Delhi. The two-stop layover and one-piece checked baggage policy are what most Indian travelers are not happy with.

Turkish Airlines’ upcoming service to Detroit is good news for Indians in Michigan, who had earlier petitioned for nonstop flights to India from Detroit. If Detroit happens to get nonstop air connectivity with India, not only Michigan Indians, but also Indians from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky will get seamless access to their home states in India. After Chicago, Detroit will be the second gateway in the Midwest USA. However, unless it becomes a reality, they will benefit from Turkish Airlines’ one-stop flights between Detroit and India. Michigan is home to the largest single immigrant group of Indians whose count has exceeded 1,00,000.